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Advanced Course in Yogi Philosophy and Oriental Occultism362
God—the only God possible—the Absolute. And all are doing this because
of the urge of the religious instinct pressing forward for unfoldment and
growth. All these people are followers of Bhakti Yogi (in its elementary
forms) although they know it not. They think they are worshiping different
conceptions of Deity—different Gods—but they are not—they are all
loving and worshiping the One—the Absolute—the Reality. Seen through
the different spectacles of the mind, the Absolute presents different and
often grotesque forms to the viewers, but all the while the Reality remains
unchanged—The One—The Eternal One—The Absolute.
And however crude and barbaric be the form of worship, it all ascends
to the One. Whether the visible object be stick, stone, image, tree, snake,
or some other form of man’s desire for an outward form for his inward
belief, the real thing worshiped is the One—unchangeable—eternal—
omnipotent—omniscient—omnipresent. And the man who worships his
highest conception of Deity does well. He does the best he knows how, and
is as worthy of respect as his more enlightened brother who also worships
his highest conception of Deity. And the conceptions of both the savage
and the advanced man, will grow higher and better, year by year, and the
mind of each unfolds so as to allow the spiritual knowledge to flow into
it. Let us lead our humbler brethren to better things, if we may and if they
are capable of receiving such instruction. But let us condemn them not, for
they are our brothers—children of God—all on the Path, and also are we.
We are but children in various stages of growth—each doing that which his
age impels him to do—each having the understanding that belongs to his
age—each doing the best he knows how. Let us not sneer, nor condemn,
nor hate—but let our love flow out toward all our brothers, though they
may be but infants unborn in spiritual knowledge. This is Bhakti Yoga in one
of its phases.
Bhakti Yoga is divided into two great branches or stages. The first is known
as Gauni Bhakti, and the second, and higher, is called Para Bhakti. The first,
Gauni Bhakti, is the preliminary stage, and consists of the science of the